Maurice

By: E. M. Forster

Narrated by: Peter Firth

Length: 6 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Exclusively from Audible

'Ah for darkness...not the darkness of a house which coops up a man among furniture, but the darkness where he can be free!'

Maurice Hall knows he must choose between living life in the shadows or denying himself a chance at love and fulfilment. Aware of his attraction to the same sex, in a time where it was considered unlawful and immoral to have homosexual desires, Maurice must decide whether to battle or submit to a prejudiced 20th-century English society.

A passionate and poignant tale, E.M. Forster's Maurice was a masterpiece ahead of its time. Incapable of believing that his contemporaries would accept its content, Forster refused to publish it, fearing that it would expose his sexuality along with his hero's.

Having witnessed, at 16, the very public trial and chastisement of Oscar Wilde, Forster grew up with an acute awareness of the kind of society he inhabited. This affected him immensely and, as such, he refused to publish any further fiction during the last 37 years of his life. Despite being one of the most celebrated authors of British history, Forster's talents were as constrained as his love life. Realising that he could never publically talk or write about the issues he held close to his heart, Forster made A Passage to India his last work.

He wasn't mistaken about his society, and when Maurice was published, posthumously, many were scandalised by the controversial content.

Unfortunately, Forster never experienced the freedom which his protagonist seeks, but Maurice has far outlived an age of bigotry and is now widely celebrated and critically acclaimed.

Narrator Biography

Having started his career as a leading child actor, Peter Firth received a Tony Award nomination for his performance in Peter Shaffer's play Equus (1973) at only 21. He later starred with Richard Burton in its film adaption, earning him a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor and an Academy Award nomination. His other film work has included roles in Pearl Harbor (2001) and The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005).

He is best known for his role as Sir Harry Pearce in the BBC show Spooks (2002-2011), appearing in every episode of the show's 10 series. Recent roles have included Jacob Marley in the BBC's Dickensian series (2015) and Ernest Augustus in ITV's drama series Victoria (2016).

He has narrated several audiobooks such as Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Birdsong and Witness. In 2015, Peter starred in Audible's multicast drama Amok.

©2010 E.M. Forster (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Forster writes beautifully as ever

Peter Firth gives this narrative a lot of weight & makes you want to keep going for long stretches.

my favorite classic

I adore this book and the person reading did very well. The movie is also amazing so I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it! Reading a follow up that was written recently called "Alec" right now :)

A Great Audio of a Gay Fiction Classic

Peter Firth does a really good job with this as narrator.

EM Forster finished this novel in 1914 but it was published posthumously in the 1970s because love between men at the time this was written was not at all accepted and was illegal in England. I also think that the Oscar Wilde scandal was still relatively fresh in people's memories as well.

Lest anyone think that the titular character is some great guy or some fellow with sensibility to the "finer" things (a stereotype) think again. He's very conscious of of his class and status, perhaps unlikable and with the exception of his sexual orientation, completely unremarkable.

I think it is Forster's genius to create an "invert" character that is completely average or even mediocre, but to show his journey as a "gay" man of a bygone era.

This book deserves its place as a great gay fiction classic.

great

The book is really beautiful, and the reading compliments Forester's work very well. The very personal nature of the the protagonist's existential contemplations become fully sensible in this medium

Gem

Heartbreaking. Thrillingly honest. I wish this was taught alongside Howard's End and Passage to India. It would have helped me feel less alone growing up, I think. "They must live outside class, without relations or money; they must work and stick to each other till death. But England belonged to them. That, besides companionship, was their reward. Her air and sky were theirs, not the timorous millions' who own stuffy little boxes, but never their own souls."

Didn't grab my attention.

Had heard a lot about the book and it had been in my wishlist for quite some time. Given that and it's historical and cultural significance in the LGBTQ+ community I'm quite happy to have read it but I did find the writing style dated which didn't really demand my attention. I would say like a textbook or a historical document it's a must read but found I spent a lot of time distracted with my mind roaming to other places. May have to take another listen to update the review again later.

A Classic Love Story [+ Warning: SPOILER ALERT!]

In the wake of the recent overturn of DOMA and Prop 8, I occasionally came across articles and social media posts referencing one of E.M. Forster’s lesser-known classics, Maurice. Having never read or listened to it before I thought this was an appropriate time to pick it up.

Due to the fact that that homosexuality was illegal in England for much of Forster’s life – and that Forster himself was a closeted gay man – the author requested that the novel not be published until his death. But the themes and subject matter may be the least shocking thing about Maurice (especially to contemporary ears). And indeed, as is often noted by Maurice’s first love, Clive Durham, the Greeks wrote about homosexual love quite rapturously. No, the most intriguing thing about Maurice – and here is the spoiler alert – is that this story has a happy ending. One is so prepared to expect tragedy from such a premise. But the fact that Forster could imagine two men finding happiness, if not societal acceptance, in pre-WW1 Britain, was remarkably forward thinking for his time. However the two men have to literally disappear into the ether, and the story ends that way - with a true vanishing - giving one the sense that Forster was unable to conjure up a viable realistic circumstance in which a relationship such as this could flourish. But he writes with such exhilaration for a possible future that Maurice ultimately serves as a hopeful and wonderful last testament from the grave.

Peter Firth’s reading is elegant, and perfectly captures the various levels of social strata through which Maurice travels, lending credence to the impossibility of the situation that a modern reader might struggle to grasp otherwise. He illuminates the desperation and anxiety with which Maurice faces his predicament and his clarity of tone helps the listener hear and feel the story beneath some of the heavier, more intellectual monologues that Forster peppers throughout. This definitely falls into my list of classics that are better heard than read.

A Classic Comes To Life

Normally, I shy away from the classics on audio since many of those who read them are boring. Peter Firth brought this book to life for me and I would highly recommend it to anyone. If you loved the movie, you will thoroughly enjoy the audio book.

I love it

If you could sum up Maurice in three words, what would they be?

What a wonderful story. EM Forster!!

What did you like best about this story?

The deepth of feeling and description of what the character is thinking and feeling.
I have read this book so many times I cannot count.

What does Peter Firth bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Fabulous. The characters are brought to life.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I love it. It make me cry every time.

Any additional comments?

Buy it - keep it. Consider referring to this story for relationship advice. It's wonderful!

beautiful

amazing story, I've been wanting to hear this story for awhile I'm glad i did.